What are some real world examples of inhibitors?

Answer 1

Inhibitors are substances that slow down or prevent chemical reactions. For example, in medicine, statins are inhibitors that reduce cholesterol levels by blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase. In the food industry, preservatives like sodium benzoate inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi to extend shelf life. Additionally, in biochemistry, competitive inhibitors bind to enzymes, preventing substrates from accessing the active site, thus regulating metabolic pathways.